Hand truck



Oct. 25, 1949. l.. BlsHoP 2,485,545

HAND TRUCK Filed Feb. 18, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet l ATTORNEYS.

Oct. 25, 1949. v v BISHOP 2,485,545

- HAND TRUCK Filed Feb. 18, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Zezvz'esszop YINVENTOR BY l/ 1 l, 1

ATTORNEYS Patented Oct. 25 1949 UNITED sTATEs PATENT ori-ICE HAND TRUCKLewis Bishop, Arcadia, Fla.

Application February 18, 1948, Serial No. 9,228

4 Claims. (Cl. 214-655) 1 This invention. relates to improvements inhand trucks.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved form of two-wheelhand truck.

Another object of the invention is to provide ap improved two-wheel typehand truck which will have adjustable means for supporting an articlewhile being moved by the truck.

ing the article engaging arms in clamped position upon an article.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved two-wheel typehand truck which will be highly eiiicient in operation, and relativelyinexpensive to manufacture and produce.

Other objects will -appear as the description proceeds.

In the 'accompanying drawings which form a part of this application,

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the improved two-wheel hand truck.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged side elevation of the lower portion of thetwo-wheel hand truck.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4--4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a partial sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a similar view to that shown in Fig. 5, except that thearcuate actuating arm is in extended position.

Like characters of reference are used throughout the followingspeciiication and the accompanying drawings to designate correspondingparts.

In carrying out the invention, there is provided an improved hand truckincluding .a body formed by two parallel vertically extending tubularframe members I and 2 which are transversely spaced, and are extendedrearwardly adjacent their upper ends. An inverted U-shape handle bar 3is secured in the upper ends of the frame members I and 2.

Three transversely extending vertically spaced bracing strips 4, 5 and 6are secured to the front edges of the frame members I and 2, preferablyby spot welding. A cross brace bar 'I is connected kbetween the sidearms of the invertedl U-shape handle bar 3 adjacent their points ofconnection with said frame members I and 2.

A vertically extending bracing strip 8 is secured by weldinglto the rearsurfaces of the bracing strips 4, 5 and 6, intermediate their ends.

Rearwardly extending frame arms 9 are welded at II) to the frame membersI and 2, and support the parallel downwardly and rearwardly extendingarms II, whose lower ends I2 are bent to extend in parallel relationwith the frame members I and 2. The lower ends of the arms l2 extendforwardly and downwardly as at I3 and are connected with the lower endsof the frame members I and 2.

A pair of bracing arms I4 are welded at I5 to the rear surfaces of theframe members I and 2 and extend rearwardly, with their lower ends I6extending downwardly in parallel relation to the ends I2 of the arms II, and their ends welded at I'I to the extensions I3 of the ends I2 ofysaid arms II.

A tranversely extending axle I8 is mounted for rotation in the bearingsI9, which are in turn disposed for vertical adjustment between theparallel ends I2 of the arms Il and the lower ends I6 of the bracingarms I4.

Supporting wheels 20 are supported upon the opposite ends of the axleI8. Heavy coil springs 2I are positioned with their lower endscontacting the bearings I9 and have their upper ends received within thetubular spring receiving housings 22 welded at 23 to the ends I2 of thearms I I. The housings 22 are apertured at 24 to receive the crossextending cotter pins 25 for holding the springs 2I within said housings22, thereby providing a resilient vertical adjustment or bearing for theaxle I8 and the wheels 20.

Bearing collars 26 are rotatably supported upon the lower ends of thetubular frame members I l and 2 with their lower ends engaging andbearing on the washers 21.

Inwardly directed carrier arm supporting plates 28 are welded at 29 tothe rear surfaces of the bearing collars 26, and are apertured at 29 toreceive the bolts 3U Whichffextend through apertures 3I in the inwardlydirected carrier arm supporting channel plates 32.

Substantially L-shape carrier or load supporting arms 33 are providedwith their inwardly extending base portions being adjustably supportedin the channel plates 32, and are formed with a plurality of spacedapertures 34 through which the locking plungers 35 may extend. Thelocking plungers 35 support the washers 36 welded at 31 thereto, andalso have coil springs 38 disposed thereabout between said washers 36and the knurled operating heads 39 secured to the outer ends of theplungers 35. The heads 39 are threaded -at 40 to be secured in thethreaded outer ends of the housings 4I secured to the channel plates 32.In operating the heads 38 will be unscrewed and the plungers 35 pulledoutwardly against the tension of the coil springs 38 while the carrieror load supporting arms 33 are being adjusted.

The forwardly extending portions of the carrier or load supporting arms33 are outwardly tapered, lying in a vertical plane, and are formed withthe inwardly extending horizontal oppositely disposed article engagingand supporting ears 42 at their outer ends for slipping under thearticle to be picked up and carried by the truck.

A tubular sleeve 43 is rotatably mounted aboutA the central portion ofthe axle i8 and is held from endwise movement by the cotter pins 44, Anarcuate actuating arm 45 for the carrier or load supporting arms 33 iswelded at 46 to the sleeve 43, extending rearwardly therefrom in avertical plane, and is formed with the transverse foot supporting barsor pedals 4l and 48 respectively disposed on the upper and lower endsthereof.

Peripherally grooved lock cylinders 49 and are welded at 5l to thesleeve 43 and are formed with a plurality of spaced circumferentiallydisposed openings 52, through which the headed pins 53 may extend, to beheld in place by the cotter pins 54.

Arcuate actuating arms 55 are apertured at their opposite ends, and arearranged so that they will have their rear ends supported on the pins 53in the peripheral grooves in the lock cylinders 49 and 55. A clevis 55is attached to the forward end of each actuating arm 55 by the pins 51,and threaded bolts 55 are formed integrally with each clevis 55.

The bolts 58 extend through openings (not shown) in the inner ends ofthe L-shape carrier or load supporting arms 33, and sleeves 59 aredisposed on the bolts 5B at the sides of the arms 33, being held inposition by means of the washers B0 and nuts 6I, thus providing auniversal joint for the connection with the arms 33.

In operation when a load is to be lifted, the truck' will be wheeled toa point near the load and the foot pedal 41 is pushed forwardly, therebyopening the carrier or load supporting arms 33. After this, the arm 33will have their ear portions 42 slipped under the load (not shown) asthe pedal 48 is pushed downwardly, which action causes the arms 33 tomove inwardly to clamp against the load, and moves the arcuate actuatingarms 55 rearwardly past dead center to lock the arms 33 in clampedposition. As the handle bar 3 is tilted rearwardly, the axle i8 willcome up against the tension of the springs 2l until the load isbalanced.

While the preferred embodiment of the instant invention has beenillustrated and described, it will be understood that it is not intendedto limit the scope of the invention thereto, as many minor changes indetail of construction may be resorted to without departure from thespirit of the invention.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

l. A hand truck comprising a body having parallel main frame members, ahandle bar at the upper end thereof, a vertically adjustable resilientlymounted axle at the lower end of said frame members, wheels on saidaxle, load carrier arms rotatably mounted on the lower ends of saidframe members, means for adjusting said 7 Number carrier arms includinga sleeve rotatably disposed on said axle, peripherally grooved lockcylinders on said sleeve, and adjustable connections between said lockcylinders and said load carrier arms.

2. A hand truck comprising a body having parallel main frame members, ahandle bar at the upper end thereof, a vertically adjustable resilientlymounted axle at the lower end of said frame members, wheels on saidaxle, load carrier arms rotatably mounted on the lower ends of saidframe members, means for adjusting said arms in a lateral direction,means rotatably mounted on said axle for actuating said load carrierarms, said means for actuating said load carrier arms including a sleeverotatably disposed about said axle, peripherally grooved lock cylinderson said sleeve, adjustable connections between said lock cylinders andsaid load carrier arms, and universal joints between said connectionsand said load carrier arms.

3. A hand truck comprising a body having parallel main frame members, ahandle bar at the upper end thereof, a vertically adjustable resilientlymounted axle at the lower end of said frame members, wheels on saidaxle, load carrier arms rotatably mounted on the lower ends of saidframe members, means for adjusting said arms in a lateral direction,means rotatably mounted on said axle for actuating said load carrierarms, said means for actuating said load carrier arms including a sleeverotatably disposed about said axle, spaced peripherally grooved lockcylinders on said sleeve, arcuate adjustable connections between saidlock cylinder and said load carrier arms, universal joints between saidconnections and said load carrier arms, and arcuate foot actuatingpedals on said sleeve for moving said adjustable connections past deadcenter to lock said load carrier arms in load clamping position andforreleasing said load carrier arms when moved in the reverse direction.

4. A hand truck comprising a body having parallel main frame members, ahandle bar at the upper end thereof, a vertically adjustable resilientlymounted axle at the lower end of said frame members, wheels on saidaxle, load carrier arms rotatably mounted on the lower ends of saidframe members, means for adjusting said arms in a lateral direction,means rotatably mounted on said axle for actuating said load carrierarms, said means for actuating said load carrier arms including a sleeverotatably disposed on said axle, peripherally grooved lock cylinders onsaid sleeve, and connections between said lock cylinders and said loadcarrier arms.

LEWIS BISHOP.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the ile ofthis partent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Parker Aug. 6, 1907 Stebler Aug. 8, 1916Bryan Sept. 1, 1925 Byington Dec. l, 1936 FOREIGN PATENTS Country DateGreat Britain Dec. 22, 1927 Number

